Folding table



June 9, 1931. J. B. ocoNNoR ET AL 1,809,564

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. June 9, 1931. J, a. oczoNNoRv E1' AL 1,809,564

FOLDING TABLE Filed Aug. 16, 192e '2 Sheets-Sheet 2 [/vVE/v -roRs' JOHN B. Ofc/v doH/v 5- A DLER Patented June 9, 1931- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOBN B. OCONNOR AND JOHIN' B. ADLER, 0F AURORA, ILLINOIS, ASSIGN'ORS TO LYON METAL PRODUCTS, ILLINOIS INCORPORATED, OF AURORA, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF FOLDING TABLE Application mea Agust 1e, 1926. serial No. 129,367.

Thisl invention relates to folding tables, and has for its object the provision of a strong, durable table of this character that will possess allof the advantages of the or- 5 dinary folding table and the additional one of presenting, when extended, a solid, substantial table having the rigidity and strength of the tables of the non-folding type.

Among its other objects, the present invention contemplates a lock between the top of the table and each hinged leg that willy be automatically effective, when the leg is extended, so as to secure the leg to the top that -to all intents and purposes a unitary rigid structure is obtained with no appreciable play between the leg and its mounting.

This lock may also be quickly and easily disengaged from its co-operative'engagement with the table top, to permit a leg to be folded to occupy a position parallel to the top.

It is' also one of the objects of the present invention to Vprovide a bracket under each corner of the table top to not only actas a support andbrace for the table top, butalso to constitute a mounting' for one of the hinged legs and a guide for the free end of the next adjacent leg when the legs are folded. f

With the above and other objects in view,

j as will be apparent., this invention consists of the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, all as hereinafter more fully described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of the under-face of the folding table forming the subject matter of the present invention, illustrating the legs in their folded positions parallel to the top;

Fig. 2 is a section taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. l3 is a section taken similarly to the section of Fig. 2, but showing the legs extended;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the leg mounting and corner bracket located under each corner of the table top, illustrating the leg carried thereby, folded to occupy a position parallel to the table top;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 with the legdextended but not locked in such position; an

Fig. 6 is also a view similar to that in Figs. 4 and 5, but showing the leg extended and locked in lsuch position.

The folding table forming the subject matter of the present invention comprises a generally rectangular top having a bracket located under each corner thereof. These brackets are an'gularly formed to correspond to the corners of the table top and each arm thereof constitutes a channel bar. At the angle between the two sides or arms of the bracket islocated a rectangular housing open at one side and extending outward from the bracket. A leg is hinged in the housing so provided and is adapted to swingthrough the open side thereof to and from a position parallel to the table top.

The upper end of each leg is provided with a spring actuated sleeve adapted to engageand embrace the housing when the leg occupies a position to substantial right angles to the table top. When the leg is so situated and the sleeve carried thereby embraces and engages the housing to which said leg is hinged, the effect is the same as if the leg were mortised into the table top in lieu of being hinged thereto. Thus, play between the leg and the table top is eliminated and a rigid, solid structure is produced.

When the sleeve is moved against its spring action to release or disengage the housing, the leg may be swung into a position parallel tothe table top. Upon being so positioned, the hinged end of the leg rests in the channel of one arm of the bracket to which it is hinged while the free end thereof rests in the channel of one of the arms of the next adjoining bracket.

Reference 'being had more particularly to the drawings, 10 designates the table top preferably constructed of metal and having a dependingdlange 11 at its edges. Ateach corner of the ta le top 10, and secured to the under surface thereof, is a bracket consisting of channelled arms 12 and 13, angularly arranged, the depending walls of which are extended to form a rectangular, housing 14 comprising depending flanges' forming 100 spaced side walls or ears 24 and a back wall or abutment 25 connecting the rearward edges of the ears 24. One side of the housing 14 is open,l as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, and such open side aligns with the channel of the arm 13 of the bracket. Within the base of the housing 14 and extending somewhat into the arm 12 is a shoulder 15 upon each side of the housing and arm 12. it is to be understood that the arms 12 and. 13, housing 14 and shoulders 15 may be an integral unit, such as a casting or stamping, if

so desired.

A leg 16 is higned to each bracket between the shoulders 15 and in the housing 14 by a pin extending transversely of the leg and into registering apertures 27 formed in said housing. The upper end of the leg 16 is curved as at 18 to permit the leg to swing about its pivot 17, and yet when occupying a position at right anglesto the top10 to substantially rest against the base of the bracket.

From Figs. 4, 5 and 6 and the foregoing description, .it is apparent that the leg 16 may swing about the pivot 17 through the open side of the housing 14 to occupy a position parallel to the table top and the base of the bracket. When so positioned, the legs 10 rest in the arm 12 of the bracket to which it is hinged, while its free end rests in the arm 13 of the next adjacent bracket (Fig. 1).

The leg 16 may beextended by swinging it about the pin 17 until its upper or hinged end is embraced Within the housing 14 and a side of the leg engages against the back wall of the socket which forms the abutment 25. When the leg is so positioned the housing constitutes a socket engaging three sides of the leg for supporting the same in its extended position. It will be noted that the housing provides an opening in its bottoni and in a side through which the table leg may pi otrude in any one of several directions, that is to say the leg may protrude from the bottom or laterally of the housing.

To lock the leg in its extended position wherein it protrudes kfrom the bottom of the housing, a slidable latch or locking detent, arranged in the form of a sleeve 19, is mounted to the upper end of the leg. The sleeve embraces the leg and carries a pin 20 extending between opposed sides of the sleeve and rigidly secured thereto. The pin 2() penetrates the upper end of the leg 16, the opposed faces of which are provided with lateral slots 21 in which the pin may slide laterally. The sleeve and pin, therefore, may slide axially of the leg Within the limits of the slots. At its u per end the walls of vthe sleeve are flare or offset to form an enlarged extension 22 of a size suiiicient to pass over and snugly embrace the sides 24 and back wall 25 of the housing 14 to which the leg is hinged.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the leg, when in extending position, is entirely embraced and encased by the housing except at the o en side of the housing. In order to close t e open side of the housing and' to firmly lock the leg in extended position therein, the sleeve 19 may be moved upwardly on the leg 16 until the extension 22 passes over and encloses the depending portions 24 and 25 of the housing. rIhe housing and sleeve thus form cooperating interlocking leg latching means and in fact create a socket having the functions and effect of a mortise and tenon joint and providing a substantially rigid connection between the table top and the legwhereby play between the leg and the table top is reduced to a minimum; and it will be apparent that both the housing and the sleeve form cooperating parts of the leg locking means. In order to normally urge the sleeve 19 upwardly on the leg 16 to engage and embrace the housing 14 and lock the leg in extended position therein, a retractile coil spring 23 is interposed between the pin 20 carried by the sleeve and the pivot pin 17 by which the lock is mounted to the housing. When the sleeve is unobstructed', the spring will urge it to move upwardly on the leg 16 so that the extension 22 of the sleeve may engage and embrace the housing 14. It will be apparent also that the action of the spring causes an upper edge of the sleeve to engage and bear against the forward ends of the shoulders 15 when the leg is in folded position substantially parallel to the top as shown in Figure 4 of the drawings. These shoulders are positioned to permit the upper edge of the extension 22 of the sleeve to pass over the lower edge of the housing 14 as the leg is lswung to its extended position and the end of the sleeve remains in engagement with the shoulders 15 until it has passed onto the corners of the housing 14 which are cut away to form curved cam surfaces' 14-a acrss which the sleeve may slide during the opening and closing movement of the leg.

The shoulders 15 serve to retain the leg in its folded position since the shoulders are arranged so that when the leg is folded the spring 23 is under tension, this tension being suiicient to draw the upper edge of the slide tightly against the ends of the shoulders 15, thereby creating a friction lock between the sleeve and the shoulders 15 suiciently firm to retain the leg in its folded position. i The shoulders 15 guide the sleeve onto the cam surfaces 14-a so that the swinging of the leg toward extended position is accomvplished' in a smooth uninterrupted manner and without requiring manipulation of the sleeve 19. It will be apparent, also, that the curved cam portions 14operate as guides for the sleeve until the extension is in position such that its movement on the leg is unobstructed and wherein the spring is free to move vthe sleeve upwardly into embracing relationship with the housing.

In collapsing the legs from extended position, it is necessary only to manually vmove the sleeve 19 downwardly on the leg against the tension of the spring 23 until the extension 22 of the sleeve releases the housing 14. When this is accomplished, a slight pivotal movement of the leg 16 brings the sleeve 22 into contact with the lower edge of the housing 14, which prevents the' action of the spring from returning it to engagement with the housing. The sleeve 19 may then be released from manual operation, when the continued movement of the leg 16 about the pin 17 will cause the sleeve 19 to ride across the cam surfaces 14a until the sleeve is aligned with and engaged by the shoulders 15.

From the foregoing, it becomes manifest that the present structure provides a lock be.- tween the table top 10 and the leg 16 which is in effect a mortise andtenon joint that eliminates practically all of the play between the leg and the table top 10. It is also apparent that the operation of the lock is automatic on the extension of the leg and substantially .automatic upon the folding of the leg. By this arrangement thelegs maybe quickly and easily folded or extended, and when folded will be contained within the confines of the depending flange 11 of the top 10.

The seating of the free ends of the legs in the arms 13 of the adjoining brackets protects the legs from lateral strains upon the legs of the pivot pins 17 and guards the legs at both their free and hinged ends. l

The bracket heretofore described constitutes a brace and support for the corners of the table and. permits the use 4of the thin metal table top by providing the necessary rigidity and strength.

While all of the elements of the foregoing construction are described and shown as being of metal, they can be made of wood or any other suitable material or combination of materials.

Having thus described our invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

f 1. A folding table having a top provided with a depending flange arranged to form a housing, a leg hlnged in said housing, and. shiftable means carried by said leg and formed to embrace the housing `to positively lock said leg in ixed position in the housing.

2. A folding table having a top with a housing projecting therefrom and formed with a locking member, a leg hinged to said top in position to swing in the housing and adapted to assume a positionparallel or at an angle to the top, and means movable on said leg to embrace the vlocking member on the housing when the leg assumes said angular position relatively to said top to positively lock thel same in such position.

3. A folding table having a depending housing secured to its top, said housing being provided with an open side, a leg hinged to swing in the housing and to extend through its openl side,`and means movable on said leg l to kembrace said housing to close the open side thereof and lock the leg therein.

4. A folding table having a projecting housing secured thereto, and said housing being provided with an open side, a leg hinged to swing in the housing and to extend through its open side, a sleeve slidably mounted on said leg, andmeans normally lurging said sleeve to embrace said housing and close the open side thereof when the `leg is positioned.

oted to the top to swing to open and closed positions adjacent said'flanged portion, al lock j carried by the leg and movable longitudinally thereof by a spring and having a portion adapted to overlappingly embrace said flanged portion of the table top to prevent the leg swinging to closed position.

7. A folding table having a top provided I with a housing formed with an opening, a leg pivoted in said housing and adapted to project through diferent portions of the opening to correspond with open and folded positions of the leg, and means for closing one part of the opening when the leg is projecting through another part of the opening to prevent movement of the leg out 'of said latter part of the opening.

8. A folding table having a top formed with a housing forming depending portions open'at one side and at the bottom,.a legplvotally mounted in the depending portions so as to swing and to project either through the open bottom or through the open side and a sleeve carried by the leg and engageable over the depending portions to lock the -leg in position projecting through the bottom opening.

9. A folding table having a top formed with a housing having depending fianged portions, forming spaced sides and an intermediate transversely disposed side, the bottom and other side being open, 'a leg pivoted between said spaced sides and swingable so that the leg projects through the bottom into open position or through the open side into folded position, and a rectangular sleeve slidable on said leg and adapted to pass over the parallel and intermediate sides of the housing to lock the leg against swinging movement.

10. A folding table having a top provided With spaced portions, a leg pivotally mounted to said top adjacent said spaced portions, and a member carried by said leg and shiftable to embrace said spaced apart portions of the top to prevent pivotal movement of the leg.

11. A folding table having a top provided with a depending Bange and a second flange spaced apart fromI the depending Harige, a leg pivotallv mounted to swing adjacent the second flange, and a member carried by the leg and shiftable into position between said flanges to prevent pivotal movement of the le g12. A folding table having a top provided with a depending flange and a housing having an open bottom, and a closed side adjacent and spaced from the flange, and an open side opposite the closed side, a leg pivoted to the housing and adapted to swing so as to project either through the open bottom or through the o-pen side, and leg locking means slidably mounted on the leg and shiftable therealong into position between the closed side and the adjacent flange.

13. A folding table having a top provided with a housing rigid therewith, a leg pivoted in the housing and extending therefrom, and a-sleeve slidably mountedto the leg-and embracing the housing to lockthe leg therein.

14C. A folding table having a top rovided with a housing, a leg'pivoted in the ousing, a sleeve slidable along the leg and adapted to fit over the housing, means normally forcing said sleeve into position over the housing when the leg is in open position and means for holding the sleeve out of normal position when the leg is in folded position.

15. A folding table having a top provided with a housing, a leg pivoted in the housing, a sleeve slidable along the leg and having a portion adapted to embrace the housing, a spring for normally forcing the sleeve up- Wardly into position embracing the housing, and means for maintaining the sleeve depressed on the leg until the leg swingsinto open position. j

16. A folding table having a top provided with a housing, a leg pivoted in the housing, a sleeve slidable along the leg and having a portion adapted to fit over the housing, a spring for normally forcing the sleeve upwardly into position over therhousing when the leg is in open position, a shoulder o-n the housing arrangedto hold the sleeve in retracted position when the legis in folded position.

17. In a folding table having a top and a leg pivoted to said top, a housing comprising depending portions formed in the top in position to receive and support the leg when in open position and a slide arranged on the leg and having a portion adapted to enclose the depending portions of the housing to lock the leg within the housing.

18. In a folding table having a top and a leg pivoted ito the top, a depending portion formed in the top adjacent said leg and providing an abutment against which the leg engages when in open position, and a slidable latch member carried by said leg in position to engage said abutment to secure the leg in open position.

19. A folding table having a depending housingsecured on its under side, said housing being substantially square in cross section and being open on its under side and at a lateral side, a leg of substantially square Y cross section, a pivotal pin passing through said housing and through said leg whereby said leg is hinged to swingfrom aclosed position in which the leg passes through the lateral open side of the housing toA an open p0- sition whereby the leg passes through the open under side of the housing, a square sleeve carried by the leg adjacent the housing, said sleeve having an oHset skirt portion spaced from the leg, and means for moving said sleeve to draw the skirt over the depending edges of the housing whereby to lock said leg in openl position.

20. A folding table comprising a top having a projecting housing secured thereto, said housing being provided with an open bottom having an opening through its sidewall, a leg hingedin said housing to swing from a closed position in which said leg passes through the opening in the side to an open position wherein the leg passes through the open bottom of the housing, a locking member carried by said leg, spring means housed in said leg and constructed and arranged when said leg is swung to open positionto cause said locking member to overlap a portion of said housingwhereby to lock said leg in open position.

21. A folding table having va top provided with a housing formed with an opening, a leg pivoted in said housing and adapted to project through different portions of the opening to correspond with open and folded positions of the leg, and a locking member shiftably mounted and adapted toengage the wall of the housing for closing one part ofv the opening when the leg is projecting through another part of the opening.

22. A folding table having a top provided with a housing formed with an openin a leg pivoted in said housing and adapte to project through different portions of the opening to correspond with open and folded positions of the leg, and spring operated means for closing one part of the opening when the leg is projected through another part of the opening to prevent movement of the leg out of said latter part of the open- 23. A folding table having a depending housin carried thereby, a leg hinged to swing 1n said housing to open and closed positions, said housing formlng one element of a positive interlock, and a sleeve slidably mounted on said leg and having a portion adapted to embracethe housing to form a cooperating member of the interlock when the leg is shifted to open position, and means enclosed within the leg for urging said sleeve toward said housing whereby, when said leg is shifted to open position, to automatically lock the leg in such position. j

24. In a folding table, a table top, a pivoting lmember fastened to and below the top, a tubular leg pivoted at its upper end to the pivoting member on a horizontal axis, the said leg having longitudinal slots in two opposed sides, a pin extending through and slidable in the "slots, a slide fastened to the pin and movable longitudinally of the leg along a face of the leg, and a spring continuously urging the slide toward the said pivot axls, the pivoting member and the slide having interlocking portions disposed so as to be engaged when the leg is swung to its upright position. ,y

25. In a folding table, a table top, a pivoting member fastened to and below the top, a tubular leg pivoted at its upper end to the pivoting member on a horizontalaxis, the said leg having longitudinal slots in two opposed sides, a pin extendin through and slidable in the slots, a slide fastened to the piny and movable longitudinally of the leg along a face of the leg, and a spring continuously urging the slide toward the said pivot axis, the pivoting member and the slide hav- "ing interlocking portions disposed so as to be engaged when the leg is swungV to its upright position, in which the spring is disposed within the tubular leg and acts through the pin to urge the slide toward the said pivot axis.

26. In a folding table, in combination with the top having a depending housing on its under side, said housing having opposed openings, a leg also having opposed registering openings, a pivotal pin passing through sald openings and housing for -hin ng the leg to the table, a locking sleeve slidaly mounted on said leg, a spring normally urging said sleeve in one direction to cause said sleeve to lockingly engage a portion of said housing,

means toward the pivot axis, Whereliy said means engages the bracket when the leg is extended.

28. A folding table having a table top, a

bracket rigidly fastened thereto, a hollow table leg pivoted to the bracket, a member having a definite path of movement relative to the leg and movable therewith, and a spring for urging said member into locking engagement with said bracket, said spring being located within the table leg.

29. In a folding table of the class described, th'e combination of a table top, a bracket having a pair of substantially parallel, spaced arms depending from said top, said leg member having its upper end portion disposed between and pivoted to said bracket arms, a sleeve axially slidably embracing said leg adjacent said bracket, spring means within said leg and anchored at one end to said leg in axially fixed relation thereto and connected at its other end to said sleeve so as to yieldingly urge said sleeve to' move upwardly along the leg towards said bracket, and means carr1ed by said sleeve\at its upper end for interlocking with the lower end portions of said bracket arms.

30. In combination a table having a top, a member extending dow wardly from said top, a leg pivotally connected to the table, a locking member slidable on the leg and adapted for engagement with said depending member, and a spring arranged in said leg for urging said locking member lupwardly for ,engagement with said depending member for locking the leg in extended posltion.

31. A folding table having a table top, a leg pivoted thereto, a flange dependin from the table top to form a rest or stop or the leg when the latter has been swung from va position underneath the tab-le to a vertical position, and a sleeve slidable along the leg and adapted to embrace said rest or'stop to hold the leg in .vertical position.

JOHN B. ocoNNoa. JOHN B. ADLER.

said housing having a-cam portion across j which the sleeve may travel during the movement of the leg for holding said sleeve out of locking position until said leg is swung to open positlon.

27. A table comprising a top, a member, arranged below sald top, a leg pi'voted to said member' means having limited movement relatively to said le and adapted to enga e said member to loc the leg in position,

an a spring inside of the leg for urging said 

